Abstract: A portable keyboard enables full QWERTY touch typing with both hands or full QWERTY typing with one hand without external support. The keyboard includes a number of keypads that are selectively positionable to configure the keyboard in different keyboard configurations for use.

Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly includes a mounting plate having a slot and a raised contact surface adjacent to at least part of the slot and a bracket coupled to the mounting plate, adapted to support at least a portion of a steering column. A coupler extends through the slot, and has a head overlying at least a portion of the contact surface, and engages with the bracket to retain the position of the steering column mount relative to the bracket. The combined thickness of all members between the head and the connecting portion is greater when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface. A greater clamping force is applied by the coupler to all members between the head and the connecting portion when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant cellulase that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family. The invention further discloses this cellulase as Gux1. Gux1 has been isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. The invention further provides recombinant forms of the identified Gux1. Methods of making and using Gux1 polypeptides, including fusions, variants, and derivatives, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for establishing a caster angle of a vehicle suspension system. The apparatus includes two air reservoirs, each reservoir having an extendable piston rod. The air reservoirs are juxtaposed, and are pivotally connected to a single bell crank. In particular, the bell crank is pivotally connected to each piston rod, and to a control arm of the vehicle suspension system for establishing the caster angle. Concerted pressurizing and exhausting of the air reservoirs extends and retracts the piston rods, causing the bell crank to rotate. Rotation of the bell crank induces movement of the control arm which translates into a rotation of an axle to a desired caster angle. In one embodiment, one air reservoir is a multi-chamber reservoir capable of doubling the force used to extend the piston rod, rotate the bell crank and adjust the caster angle.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead includes a lead body and a connector terminal. A conductor extends from the lead body to the connector terminal along a helical path through a transition zone.

Abstract: In a pipe connection, a first pipe has a first flange of sheet metal provided with a first wall connected circumferentially to the first pipe. A second pipe has an end section shaped as a second flange. A clamp engages across the first and second flanges and has conical sidewalls forcing the first and second flanges axially against one another when tightening the clamp. The first flange delimits together with the first pipe an annular chamber that is coaxial to the longitudinal pipe axis. The first flange has a second wall that is glidingly supported on a free end of the first pipe. A sheet metal sealing ring is positioned between the first and second flanges. It has an edge section that is bent back onto a remaining sealing ring section that has a corrugation projecting past the bent edge section in an untightened state of the clamp.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting at least one electrical connector body, the apparatus includes a connector housing mountable to a printed circuit board (PCB). The connector housing includes at least one base member for attachment to the PCB; and at least one support post each spaced apart from one another and extending from the at least one base member. The support posts inserted into one or more clearance holes in the PCB are configured to receive the one or more support posts. When a lateral force is applied to the connector body, the support posts acts as a support and transfers the lateral force to the PCB, thereby reducing a rotational moment at a base of each connector body connected to the PCB.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electro-active lens is disclosed. The lens is manufactured by providing a lens blank having a front and back surface, a thickness, and an index of refraction. An electro-active element is placed on one of the front or back surfaces of the lens blank. A covering surface is then formed over the surface of the lens blank containing the electro-active element. In some embodiments, the electro-active lens may then be surfaced to provide a desired fixed optical power and edged to fit within a spectacles frame.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing deterministic based broken scan chain diagnostics. A deterministic test pattern is generated and is loaded into each scan chain in the device under test using lateral insertion via system data ports applying system clocks. Then each scan chain is unloaded and a last switching latch is identified. The testing steps are repeated a selected number of times. Then checking for consistent results is performed. When consistent results are identified, then the identified last switching latch is sent to a Physical Failure Analysis system.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a keypad for building automation may comprise a sensing layer operable to detect user input. The sensing surface configured with a plurality of switching fields assigned to different automation functions. A printed label is layered over the sensing surface for identifying the different automation functions to a user. Control circuitry is operatively associated with the sensing surface. The control circuitry receives user input corresponding to at least one of the switching fields on the sensing surface, and the control circuitry generates a signal for executing the automation function assigned to the switching field at an automation device.

Abstract: An integrated device provides functionality of both a PDA and cellular telephone. Features include a power button offering control of both the computing and telephony functions of the device; a lid that turns the device on and off and controls additional telephony functions; a jog rocker that activates the device and is used to select from a variety of menu options; application buttons that offer direct access to applications stored on the device, and which can be configured to operate in conjunction with secondary keys to offer added functionality; a keyboard that enables data input into the device; an automatic word completion function that verifies and corrects a user's typing in real time; and a simplified keyboard navigation system that allows the navigation of menus using keyboard shortcuts.

Abstract: Controlling displacement in a variable displacement compressor of an automobile air conditioning system entails detecting the temperature and humidity level of air entering the evaporator, setting a target air probe temperature from inside the automobile, and reading the evaporator air-out temperature at the temperature probe. From these parameters, the evaporator suction pressure can be calculated as can the load on the evaporator and the refrigerant flow rate so that the compressor swash plate angle, and thus, the compressor displacement, can be adjusted. After adjusting the compressor swash plate angle, calculating the absolute value of a difference between the actual air probe value and the vehicle occupant's air probe setting can be performed. If the absolute value is less than 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit, then the compressor stroke can be maintained, but if it is not, then the iteration must again be performed.

Abstract: Tooling fixtures and methods are described for securing a solid-matrix panel for cutting. In one embodiment, a tooling fixture includes a first clamping system and a second clamping system. The first clamping system receives a solid-matrix panel of PCBs and secures the solid-matrix panel for cutting of the solid-matrix panel along a first axis. Once secured, a cutting apparatus cuts the solid-matrix panel along the first axis between the PCBs to cut the solid-matrix panel into a plurality of strips. The second clamping system then moves into a position relative to the strips of the solid-matrix panel and secures the strips for cutting of the strips along a second axis. When secured by the second clamping system, the cutting apparatus cuts the individual PCBs from the strips.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented for detecting the presence of a packet being transmitted on a communications medium using self-correlation of samples taken from the communications medium. The method saves on power consumption by sampling the communications medium at a sampling rate that is lower than the sampling rate used for sampling the data in the packet. An unexpected result is achieved when packet detection performs better at the lower sampling rate than at the higher sampling rate.

Abstract: Conventional formation evaluation with dual inflatable packers includes the steps of pressurizing the packers so as to isolate an annular portion of the borehole wall, collecting one or more samples of formation fluid via the isolated portion of the borehole wall, and depressurizing the packers so as to permit movement of the mandrel within the borehole. A sampling method and apparatus that utilize one or more of the following to advantage is provided: restricting deformation of the packers during inflation using an annular bracing assembly; actively retracting the packers using ambient borehole pressure; and substantially centralizing the mandrel intermediate the packers so as to resist buckling of the mandrel.

Abstract: Methylidene mevalonic acid, a material isolated from a fungal extract, and its primary alcohol and carboxylic acid derivatives, are potent herbicides demonstrating a broad spectrum of weed control. These materials are useful for weed control and for the cultivation of organically grown crops.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluidic MEMS package includes attaching a cover plate with a plurality of openings to a substrate with a plurality of bond rings with breaches such that the cover plate, the substrate and the bond rings define a plurality of respective inner cavities. The cover plate, the substrate and the breaches define a plurality of respective fill ports. The method also includes filling the inner cavities with fluid, sealing the fluid in the inner cavities, and singulating a plurality of MEMS packages from the substrate.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from a process stream that includes the use of reticulated material to filter the process stream in a vessel located upstream of a process unit. The reticulated material can be used with other conventional filter media within the vessel.